TOWNSVILLE boxer Mark Flanagan will make his inaugural Australian cruiserweight title defence against Hungarian-born fighter Balazs Varga in Brisbane next month.

Flanagan (16 wins, four losses) won the Australian belt against Daniel Amman in Townsville in May, and needed a mandatory defence within six months to keep his title.

The Upper Ross Hawks boxer is still hopeful of landing a fight against cruiserweight big guns David Aloua or Brad Pitt before the end of the year, but Flanagan’s trainer Dennis Clancy said the 23-year-old would need to be wary of Varga.

“He’s dangerous and if he catches you early he can put you away,” Clancy said.

“He’s like a mad bull early on, and he’s got a kickboxing background and he’s based in Brisbane, so he’ll have a good following down there.”